Teaching Tools

Learning about music as building blocks of society in ‘Serenade for Haiti’

Serenade for Haiti is a touching documentary that chronicles the story of the students and teachers at Sainte Trinite Music School in Port-au-Prince Haiti, before and after the devastating 2010 earthquake. A screening of the film may supplement a social studies, global studies, or arts/music curriculum.

Taught in conjunction with this guide, Serenade for Haiti will encourage students to consider art and music as fundamental building blocks of society and self, instrumental in the development of full personhood and culture. Discussion questions and supplementary materials facilitate further research into related topics such as global poverty, recovery from trauma and Haitian history.

Learning about women’s rights through the documentary ‘RBG’

RBG is an inspiring feature documentary about the life and work of legendary Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A screening of the film may complement a U.S. history, government, or gender studies curriculum, and will encourage students to reflect on the importance of the judiciary in determining the rights of oppressed groups, in particular women.

Taught in conjunction with this guide, RBG will challenge students to think critically about the history of sex discrimination and women’s rights in the United States. Discussion questions and supplemental materials facilitate further research into related topics such as partisanship on the Supreme Court, checks and balances, activist judges, motherhood and working women, pop culture icons, and the #MeToo movement.

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Amazon Prime Video

Learning about immersive storytelling through computer graphics — Lucasfilm

Launched by Lucasfilm in 2015, ILMxLAB embraces the next transformative opportunity in entertainment: immersive storytelling powered by real-time computer graphics. Experienced professionals from ILMxLAB will share their expertise in a behind-the-scenes, interactive multimedia presentation that demonstrates the intersection of art, science, and technology in the entertainment industry, all while making connections to current STEAM curriculum topics.
The Art & Science of Lucasfilm program features experienced professionals from the various Lucasfilm divisions sharing their knowledge with Bay Area middle and high school students in a series of behind-the-scenes, interactive multimedia presentations that demonstrate the intersection of art and science.

Learning how Pixar short ‘Sanjay’s Super Team’ was made

In Sanjay’s Super Team, the new short film from Pixar Animation Studios, accomplished artist Sanjay Patel uses his own experience to tell the story of a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop culture comes into conflict with his father’s traditions. Sanjay is absorbed in the world of cartoons and comics, while his father tries to draw him into the traditions of his Hindu practice. Tedium and reluctance quickly turn into an awe-inspiring adventure as the boy embarks on a journey he never imagined, returning with a new perspective that they can both embrace. Directed by Sanjay Patel and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle, Sanjay’s Super Team is currently in theaters, in front of Disney•Pixar’s The Good Dinosaur.

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Learning how Pixar’s animated short ‘Piper’ was made

The film tells the story of a hungry sandpiper hatchling who ventures from her nest for the first time to dig for food by the shoreline. The only problem is, the food is buried beneath the sand where scary waves roll up onto the shore. In the presentation, the filmmakers will discuss the production process as well as the unique inspiration for this delightful story.